Lawsuit Pushes Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Vote Back to 2018

Supporters of a proposal to legalize medical marijuana in Oklahoma have filed a lawsuit calling anti-pot Republican Attorney General E. Scott Pruitts rewriting of their ballot question misleading, effectively ending their long-shot attempt at placing the measure before voters in November.

No elected official has the right to rewrite these ballots in such a way that he would try to unfairly influence voters. Scott Pruitt has a habit, a pattern of doing this. David Slane, Oklahomans for Health

Oklahomans for Heath, backers of State Question 788, had collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but feared Pruitts meddling with their proposal would have confused voters into thinking they were considering legalizing recreational marijuana.

Earlier this month, the group filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court challenging Pruitts language.

Thousands and thousands of signatures were collected from voters of Oklahoma, David Slane, attorney for Oklahomans for Health, told the Associated Press after he filed the lawsuit. No elected official has the right to rewrite these ballots in such a way that he would try to unfairly influence voters. Scott Pruitt has a habit, a pattern of doing this.

Did Pruitts Rewrite of Ballot Question Deliberately Mislead Voters?

Slane believes the rewrite was intentionally written to encourage Oklahomans to vote against the measure. Pruitt is a Republican, and as Attorney General for Oklahoma he unsuccessfully sued the State of Colorado in the United States Supreme Court in a failed attempt to overturn the 2012 voter-approved law legalizing recreational marijuana.

The original wording of the initiative clearly states that a yes vote legalizes the licensed use, sale and growth of marijuana in Oklahoma for medical purposes. A license is required for use and possession of marijuana for medical purposes, and must be approved by an Oklahoma Board Certified Physician.

Pruitts rewrite, however, changes the wording to read This measure ...